Apart from being a healthy sport, swimming is a survival skill. Therefore there is nothing wrong with learning to swim regardless of your age.
Given that there are so many benefits of doing it, learning to swim is a life skill investment that everyone should ideally have. The benefits vary, ranging from nourishing the body and creating an ideal body posture, to losing weight.
Anyone can begin to recognize how to learn to swim. The advantage of swimming is that it doesn’t have too much impact on joints or bones.
Preparation for Learning to Swim
Swimming can be done anywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Choose the most comfortable and of course clean.
When using a public swimming pool, be sure to recognize the rules. Sometimes, there are special lanes for slow, medium and fast swimmers. If you’re just starting out, stay at a slow pace.
Now, it’s time to prepare equipment in advance such as:
Prepare a swimsuit
Having the right swimming equipment can make swimming sessions more comfortable and effective. Of course, the most important tool is a swimsuit. Look for one that fits your body and doesn’t restrict your movement in the water.
There are many famous swimwear brands to choose from. Each brand offers its own advantages. When you already have a swimsuit, pay attention to how to care for it.
Exposure to sunlight, chlorine, or seawater can cause them to fade and loosen. This can affect the comfort when wearing it.
Prepare other equipment
Besides a swimsuit, there are also other equipment that you also need to have. Its nature is not mandatory, it’s just that it will affect the preferences of each individual. Anything?
- Swimming cap
- Swimming goggles
- paddles
- Lifebuoy
- Large sized towels
How to Learn to Swim for Beginners
When you’re just trying to swim, you don’t need to set a target for so many laps. Adjust to each other’s abilities because basically the most important thing is to understand the technique.
The easiest move for beginners is the front crawl. This is the easiest move. Start by trying in shallow pools first.
Here’s how:
Starting technique
Begin by standing with your back against the pool wall. Then, inhale and bend from the waist until your face is completely in the water. Ears are also ideally at the water’s edge.
Hold this movement for 2 seconds, then slowly turn your head in one direction. While doing this, exhale. Finally, return to the standing position.
How to breathe
Both arms are straightened by the sides of the body with palms facing down. Then, breathe and bend like the first technique. When your face is in the water, lift your right hand up out of the water, then point forward.
When your hands come into contact with the water, pull down in a circular motion until your hands are behind your body. At this point, your palms should be facing up.
Then, tilt your head to the right and inhale through your mouth again, without holding your head up. When exhaling, can through the nose or mouth.
Repetition
Then, repeat the movement and breathing until you can do one cycle without lifting your head from the water. Unstable movement in the water will make the body have to work harder to reach a certain distance.
The movement of the hands in front of the body and kicking legs will prevent the body from sinking. As much as possible, keep your body straight in the water and close to the surface.
Leg movement
When learning to swim, train your legs by straightening them out and kicking from the waist. The kick should be fast enough, but only make a small splash. Ideally, the feet should not be out of the water.
Do the complete cycle until you take your next breath. Keep kicking and breathing until you get used to the pattern.
Manage time
If you’re still learning, don’t forget to manage your time so that the practice takes place actively. For example by setting each session for 10 minutes every day. After the movements of the hands, feet, and breathing techniques are regular, the duration can be increased.
Regardless of your age, some of these tips can help you master swimming techniques, such as:
- Practice with a swimming instructor
- Exhale each time your head is underwater
- Record a video to know if the movement is correct or not
- Watch the instruction video to see an exact example
- Keep practicing to improve technique and coordination
